Lahore:
The government’s recent decision to reduce the repurchase speed of excess solar energy from RS27 to RS10 per year. Unit has given rise to a broad concern over Pakistan’s solar energy sector that significantly dims consumer interest and slows the pace of new installations.
Industrial stakeholders, including importers of the solar system and suppliers, warn that the lack of a clear and consistent networking policy has eroded the market’s confidence.
Traditionally, the solar system is demanding tops in front of the summer as households and businesses are preparing for increasing power costs.
This year, however, the trend has bowed with many companies reporting sluggish sales despite record-low prices for sun equipment.
In a speech with Express Pakinomist, Rehan Adnan Qureshi, CEO of a solar energy company, said the expected seasonal increase in demand has not realized.
“Every year we see a sharp increase in demand as summer approaches. This time, uncertainty about Netto measurement has caused consumers to hesitate,” he explained. Qureshi noted that global market dynamics, especially a production surplus in China, have significantly reduced solar panel costs, creating favorable conditions for buyers.
“Solar systems are more affordable than ever. But because of political ambiguity, people are reluctant to invest,” he added.
Currently, Class-A Sol cell panels are priced combined with branded inverters between RS100 and RS120 per Watt-down from RS160-165 just a few years ago. Market data shows that a 5 -kilowatt (kW) system now costs approx. RS600,000, while a 10-KW setup is priced at RS1.15 million.
Larger 15 kW and 20 kW systems cost RS1.4 million and RS1.8 million respectively. Muhammad Hanif, another importer of sun equipment, confirmed the continued price drop, with costs that fell with RS1 to RS3 per year. Watts in recent weeks. However, he noticed a shift in consumer behavior.
“There is increasing interest in hybrid solar systems with battery storage. People prefer to store energy for personal use rather than sell it back to the new, reduced speed,” Hanif said.
Battery sales have seen a remarkable increase as more users pursue self -sufficiency. “RS10 per repurchase rate simply does not justify selling power to the network,” he added.
The industrial sector also faces headwinds as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) delays approvals for power purchasing agreements, adding further uncertainty to the market.
With stakeholders that sound the alarm, Solar Energy urges Industry the government to give clarity and transparency in net meter. Without a stable and supportive political framework, experts warn, the significant progress made by the adoption of renewable energy could begin to loosen.
According to the Global Electricity Review 2025 by the UK -based Energy Think Tank Ember, Pakistan imported a record 17 gigawatts (GW) of solar cell panels in 2024 – more than twice the previous year – placed it among the world’s top sun markets.
